WEBVTT

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 One time there has been some movements back to Israel.

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 About 90 years now they've been back in the land.

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 And Nehemiah finds out from his brother that the wall has yet to be rebuilt around the city.

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 In fact, the king that he serves issued an edict 13 years prior to stop the building of said wall.

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 As the inhabitants of the area, more than likely, Sambalat and Tobiah, that we're going to talk a bit about today,

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 let him know what was happening in the land.

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 And he saw it as an affront to his kingship.

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 And so he put a stop to the wall.

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 But the fact that this wall had yet to be built really grieved Nehemiah.

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 Because the glory of God was being belittled in this way.

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 The people of God's condition was the visible way in which God was praised in this day.

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 And the fact that they were still living in a ruined city meant that Nehemiah's God didn't appear so great.

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 And notice my careful wording.

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 He didn't appear so great.

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 And so Nehemiah was grieved by this and he prayed.

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 We saw that in chapter 1.

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 I introduced the Latin phrase to you sine qua non, without which nothing.

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 He knew that if this work was going to get done, it had to be a movement of God.

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 That he could not accomplish it on his own.

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 And so he prayed.

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 But even though he recognized that God's providence must come into play,

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 God must be in control of what was going to happen, he planned.

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 So we saw that as well, that he set forth a plan that he could present to the king.

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 And we saw then in the middle of verse 8 of chapter 2,

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 And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.

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 We see God bringing about this great work of bringing back together the people,

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 using Nehemiah to go back to lead them.

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 And so we talked last week about the actual work.

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 We looked at chapter 3, and I apologize to you for breaking a little bit from the flow of what's happening here.

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 But we talked through chapter 3 of this great list of these men and women who worked hard to rebuild the wall.

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 And we talked about how it was that they did in fact work,

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 and that they worked without regard to their positions, to their gender, their zip code.

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 Some of them were from outlying cities.

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 They did their fair share.

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 You remember some of them did more than just a section of the wall.

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 My favorite being a perfumer who built two sections of the wall.

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 Or their skill sets.

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 These weren't masons.

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 They carried out various tasks.

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 Rulers and priests that worked on this wall.

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 So we're going to look today at the very end of chapter 2, which we bounced over before, verse 19 and 20.

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 And then chapter 4.

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 We're going to look at the way they worked in the face of opposition.

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 It would be nice if we came to this point in the story.

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 They get to work.

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 They get this mind for it.

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 They see that the good hand of God is with Nehemiah and the work before them.

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 And they strengthen their hands.

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 And then the rest of the story we read,

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 And they built a magnificent wall.

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 And it was wonderful.

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 And that's the end of the story.

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 It would be a nice way to read it.

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 That would be an encouragement to me in my own life.

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 I have a work that's been set before me.

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 I'd kind of like the story to play out that way.

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 Because that would mean that things are just going to go good.

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 I've strengthened my hands.

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 I'm ready to do the work God's putting for me.

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 And it's just going to go really well.

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 The story's going to go great in that way.

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 But that's not what we see happening here.

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 They end up having to work in the face of great opposition.

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 Remembering that they were motivated by providence.

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 Chapter 2, verse 18.

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 Nehemiah reports the hand of my God that had been upon me for good.

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 You remember that when God's people attempt to do God's work in His way,

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 there will always be opposition.

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 This world hates the ways of God.

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 So when God's people attempt to do God's work in His way,

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 notice the careful wording there.

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 Things can go real well for you sometimes if you're not doing things in God's way.

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 But when God's people attempt to do God's work in His way,

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 there will always be opposition.

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 My mind was drawn to 2 Timothy 3.12 where Paul wrote,

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 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

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 You remember as we're looking at this story, it's certainly a historical account.

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 It's not an allegory.

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 But we in some ways can take it allegorically for our own living.

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 We are now being built up into a temple, a holy habitation for God.

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 And so the work before us is not to build a wall, to build buildings.

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 The work before us is to build up the church.

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 To be holy and to bring about holiness in the lives of others.

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 To be disciple-making disciples.

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 And so 2 Timothy 3.12 comes together for us then.

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 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

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 Will face opposition.

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 So let's read together.

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 I'm going to help us skip around just a little bit.

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 Beginning in chapter 2, verse 19.

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 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it,

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 they jeered at us and despised us and said,

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 What is this thing that you are doing?

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 Are you rebelling against the king?

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 Then I replied to them,

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 The God of heaven will make us prosper,

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 and we his servants will arise and build.

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 But you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.

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 Now let's just pause there before we go to chapter 4.

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 Firstly, I love the names of our antagonists in the story.

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 Sanballat and Tobiah.

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 I'm glad I get to say them over and over again this morning.

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 We see some other antagonists.

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 They're the primary ones, but we also see Geshem here.

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 Later in chapter 4, we see the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites

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 all rise up against the work that's happening in Israel.

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 But pay a close attention before we move on to chapter 4

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 at the response, which I just love.

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 Then I replied to them,

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 The God of heaven will make us prosper.

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 By his providential hand, he will make us proper.

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 And we his servants will arise and build.

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 Flying in the face of their objection to the building.

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 The God of heaven will make us prosper.

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 We will arise and build.

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 And he says to them,

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 But you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.

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 Now it's likely that there were rulers in Jerusalem

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 that were bowing to Sanballat and Tobiah.

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 More than likely, the Techoites that we saw in chapter 3

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 that would not stoop to serve their Lord

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 had a pact, had an agreement with Sanballat,

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 and therefore they wouldn't serve the work of God.

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 Nehemiah is very careful to say to them,

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 But you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.

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 Get out of the way.

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 God and his people are rebuilding the wall.

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 Chapter 4.

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 Bear with me.

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 Now, when Sanballat heard that they were building the wall,

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 he was angry and greatly enraged,

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 and he jeered at the Jews.

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 And he said in the presence of his brothers

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 and of the army of Samaria,

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 What are these feeble Jews doing?

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 Will they restore it for themselves?

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 Will they sacrifice?

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 Will they finish up in a day?

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 Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish

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 and burned ones at that?

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 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him,

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 and he said,

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 Yes, what are they building?

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 If a fox goes up on it,

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 he will break down their stone wall.

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 Hear, O our God,

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 for we are despised.

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 Turn back their taunt on their own heads

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 and give them up to be plundered in a land

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 where they are captives.

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 Do not cover their guilt,

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 and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight,

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 for they have provoked you to anger

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 in the presence of the builders.

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 So we built the wall,

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 and all the wall was joined together

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 to half its height,

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 for the people had a mind to work.

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 But when Sambalat and Tobiah

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 and the Arabs and the Ammonites

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 and the Ashdodites heard

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 that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem

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 was going forward

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 and that the breaches were beginning to be closed,

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 the gaps were being closed,

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 they were very angry.

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 And they all plotted together

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 to come and fight against Jerusalem

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 and to cause confusion in it.

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 And we prayed to our God

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 and set a guard as a protection against them

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 day and night.

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 In Judah it was said,

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 The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing.

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 There is too much rubble.

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 By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.

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 And our enemies said,

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 They will not know or see

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 till we come among them

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 and kill them and stop the work.

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 At that time the Jews who lived near them

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 came from all directions

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 and said to us ten times,

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 You must return to us.

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 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall

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 in open places,

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 I stationed the people by their clans

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 with their swords,

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 their spears,

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 and their bows.

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 And I looked and arose

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 and said to the nobles

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 and to the officials

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 and to the rest of the people,

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 Do not be afraid of them.

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 Remember the Lord

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 who is great and awesome

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 and fight for your brothers,

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 your sons,

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 your daughters,

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 your wives,

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 and your homes.

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 When our enemies heard

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 that it was known to us

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 that God had frustrated their plan,

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 we all returned to the wall.

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 Each to his work.

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 From that day on,

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 half of my servants

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 worked on construction

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 and half held the spears,

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 shields,

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 bows,

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 and coats of mail.

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 And the leaders stood behind

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 the whole house of Judah

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 who were building on the wall.

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 Those who carried burdens

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 were loaded in such a way

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 that each labored on the work

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 with one hand

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 and held his weapon

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 with the other.

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 And each of the builders

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 had a sword strapped at his side

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 while he built.

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 The man who sounded the trumpet

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 was beside me.

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 And I said to the nobles

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 and to the officials

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 and to the rest of the people,

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 The work is great

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 and widely spread

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 and we are separated

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 on the wall

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 far from one another.

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 In the place where you hear

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 the sound of the trumpet,

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 rally to us there.

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 Our God will fight for us.

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 So we labored at the work

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 and half of them

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 held the spears

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 from the break of dawn

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 until the stars came out.

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 I also said to the people

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 at that time,

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 that every man and his servant

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 pass the night within Jerusalem

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 that they may be a guard

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 for us by night

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 and may labor by day.

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 So neither I nor my brothers

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 nor my servants

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 nor the men of the guard

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 who followed me,

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 none of us took off our clothes.

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 Each kept his weapon

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 at his right hand.

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 Now in chapter 5,

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 we see a little interjection

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 and Kyle actually will be telling you

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 a bit more about the work

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 that's happening

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 even as the work on the wall

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 is taking place.

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 But then in chapter 6,

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 we see some oppression

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 that's brought against Nehemiah himself.

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 Originally, I planned to go this far,

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 but I chopped it this morning

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 because it was just way too much.

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 But turn your attention

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 to chapter 6, verses 15 and 16.

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 So the wall was finished

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 on the 25th day of the month.

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 It lulled in 52 days.

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 And when all our enemies heard of it,

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 all the nations around us

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 were afraid and fell greatly

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 in their own esteem.

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 For they perceived

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 that this work had been accomplished

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 with the help of our God.

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 Join me in prayer.

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 Father God, we thank you

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 for your inspired word.

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 This is a record of an event

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 that happened many thousands

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 of years ago.

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 But it was written

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 for our encouragement today.

00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:56.519
 I believe that you have brought

00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:58.179
 all of us together today.

00:11:58.179 --> 00:12:00.039
 And that you intend to speak

00:12:00.039 --> 00:12:00.979
 to all of our hearts.

00:12:01.099 --> 00:12:01.799
 And so I just ask

00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:02.419
 that you will.

00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:05.079
 That you will show us

00:12:05.079 --> 00:12:05.979
 how it is

00:12:05.979 --> 00:12:07.339
 that the work before us,

00:12:07.579 --> 00:12:09.099
 even in the face of opposition,

00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:12.099
 can and will be completed.

00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:13.739
 We praise you

00:12:13.739 --> 00:12:14.620
 for your words to us.

00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:15.299
 That we have

00:12:15.299 --> 00:12:17.339
 a glimpse,

00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:18.259
 a window in

00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:19.519
 to the mind of the Almighty.

00:12:20.179 --> 00:12:21.519
 And we pray this in Christ's name.

00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:22.559
 Amen.

00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:25.339
 So there are two types

00:12:25.339 --> 00:12:26.099
 of opposition

00:12:26.099 --> 00:12:27.439
 that took place here.

00:12:27.539 --> 00:12:28.079
 And I want to kind of

00:12:28.079 --> 00:12:28.939
 bring those to you.

00:12:29.119 --> 00:12:29.500
 Firstly,

00:12:30.119 --> 00:12:31.199
 physical opposition.

00:12:31.839 --> 00:12:33.299
 We see chapter 4,

00:12:33.359 --> 00:12:34.059
 verse 7 and 8.

00:12:34.119 --> 00:12:35.279
 We see Sambalat and Tobiah,

00:12:35.359 --> 00:12:35.719
 the Arabs,

00:12:35.859 --> 00:12:36.359
 the Ammonites,

00:12:36.479 --> 00:12:37.419
 and the Ashdodites.

00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:39.399
 They hear that the progression

00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:40.259
 is still happening.

00:12:40.339 --> 00:12:41.019
 Even though there's been

00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:42.099
 some jeering,

00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:43.439
 some making fun of,

00:12:43.699 --> 00:12:44.699
 they are still beginning

00:12:44.699 --> 00:12:45.859
 to build the wall.

00:12:45.939 --> 00:12:46.159
 In fact,

00:12:46.199 --> 00:12:47.179
 they're starting to close

00:12:47.179 --> 00:12:48.259
 in the gaps of the wall.

00:12:48.339 --> 00:12:49.199
 It's been completed

00:12:49.199 --> 00:12:51.139
 to half of its height.

00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:52.559
 And they become angry.

00:12:53.059 --> 00:12:54.059
 And they plot together

00:12:54.059 --> 00:12:55.500
 to come and fight

00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:57.340
 against Jerusalem.

00:12:57.799 --> 00:12:59.679
 There's this physical opposition

00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:01.679
 that's presented before them.

00:13:02.379 --> 00:13:04.600
 What is their response to this?

00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:06.539
 What is their response?

00:13:06.819 --> 00:13:07.879
 They enter into,

00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:08.460
 this is what we read

00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:09.360
 through chapter 4,

00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:12.620
 into a state of perpetual readiness.

00:13:13.699 --> 00:13:15.139
 They got prepared.

00:13:15.319 --> 00:13:16.240
 They got ready

00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:18.019
 for the fight that may come.

00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:18.740
 In fact,

00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:19.919
 in case you didn't catch it,

00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:21.099
 we turn from the end

00:13:21.099 --> 00:13:22.219
 of verse 14 to 15,

00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:23.599
 they actually stood

00:13:23.599 --> 00:13:24.519
 in the low gaps

00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:25.439
 behind the wall,

00:13:25.819 --> 00:13:27.199
 all of them ready to fight.

00:13:27.979 --> 00:13:28.979
 They hear rumor

00:13:28.979 --> 00:13:30.159
 that a fight is coming

00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:31.479
 and they armed themselves

00:13:31.479 --> 00:13:32.179
 and they got ready.

00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:33.500
 They ceased building

00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:34.199
 on the wall

00:13:34.199 --> 00:13:35.079
 to stop

00:13:35.079 --> 00:13:36.039
 and to fight.

00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:37.240
 But in verse 15,

00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:38.459
 when they heard

00:13:38.459 --> 00:13:39.279
 that their enemies

00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:40.120
 had heard

00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:41.240
 that the plan

00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:42.179
 had been confounded,

00:13:42.539 --> 00:13:43.779
 that they had stood guard,

00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:44.439
 that they knew

00:13:44.439 --> 00:13:45.120
 they were coming,

00:13:45.719 --> 00:13:46.500
 they go back

00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:47.539
 to the work.

00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:48.740
 And they go back

00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:49.139
 to the work

00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:50.500
 in some very interesting ways.

00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:51.699
 Nehemiah comes up

00:13:51.699 --> 00:13:53.099
 with some brilliant plans

00:13:53.099 --> 00:13:54.419
 for how they're going to work.

00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:55.699
 Half of his servants

00:13:55.699 --> 00:13:56.319
 stand guard

00:13:56.319 --> 00:13:57.059
 while the other half

00:13:57.059 --> 00:13:57.879
 are working.

00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:59.299
 Those that are working

00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:00.120
 carry loads

00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:00.699
 in such a way

00:14:00.699 --> 00:14:01.259
 that they can carry

00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:02.579
 a weapon in one hand

00:14:02.579 --> 00:14:03.519
 and a load,

00:14:03.579 --> 00:14:04.199
 and remember a load

00:14:04.199 --> 00:14:04.659
 in this case

00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:06.360
 is probably heavy stones

00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:07.339
 and mortar

00:14:07.339 --> 00:14:08.500
 and things to fill in,

00:14:08.599 --> 00:14:10.019
 the gaps on the wall.

00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:12.500
 In the other hand,

00:14:13.179 --> 00:14:13.980
 he has people

00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:14.959
 standing by

00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:16.320
 with all of the armaments

00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:16.820
 they would need,

00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:17.600
 the coat of mail,

00:14:17.680 --> 00:14:18.600
 the things they wouldn't wear

00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:19.500
 while they were working.

00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:20.440
 They stood by

00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:21.900
 holding on to those things

00:14:21.900 --> 00:14:23.340
 so that if they needed them,

00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:23.900
 they could drop

00:14:23.900 --> 00:14:24.840
 what they were doing,

00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:25.920
 put on the armor,

00:14:26.259 --> 00:14:27.019
 and fight

00:14:27.019 --> 00:14:28.420
 for the sake of the city.

00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:30.340
 He set up a plan

00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:31.080
 for how they would

00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:32.180
 rally together.

00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:33.300
 They're spread out

00:14:33.300 --> 00:14:34.280
 amongst this wall,

00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:35.639
 this great parameter

00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:37.000
 of the city Jerusalem.

00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:38.139
 So he comes up

00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:38.680
 with a plan

00:14:38.680 --> 00:14:40.420
 to blow a trumpet

00:14:40.420 --> 00:14:40.840
 and everybody

00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:41.460
 to gather

00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:42.759
 at that place.

00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:44.799
 You even see record

00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:45.360
 of the fact

00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:46.399
 that he had everybody

00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:47.600
 stay inside the city,

00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:48.639
 not return to their homes

00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:49.460
 outside of the city,

00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:51.259
 but rest and stay inside

00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:51.899
 in case they needed

00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:53.159
 to fight at night.

00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:54.399
 And that he even records

00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:55.139
 in verse 23

00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:55.720
 that they didn't

00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:56.600
 take off their clothes,

00:14:56.700 --> 00:14:57.120
 which was not

00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:58.779
 for the sake of grossness,

00:14:58.840 --> 00:14:59.840
 but just to let us know

00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:01.720
 that they were always ready.

00:15:02.019 --> 00:15:04.399
 They never disrobed to sleep.

00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:06.200
 They always kept ready

00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:07.360
 to fight and to work.

00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:09.500
 For 52 days,

00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:10.939
 they did this type of thing.

00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:12.100
 So they got ready

00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:12.899
 in the state

00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:14.639
 of perpetual readiness.

00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:16.080
 But before that,

00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:18.820
 before they ever did that,

00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:19.920
 what do we see them

00:15:19.920 --> 00:15:20.960
 stopping to do?

00:15:22.800 --> 00:15:23.800
 They prayed.

00:15:24.540 --> 00:15:24.700
 Right?

00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:27.379
 Sine qua non.

00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:29.399
 Without which nothing.

00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:31.000
 Chapter 4, verse 9.

00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:33.240
 And we prayed to our God

00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:35.120
 and set a guard

00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:35.680
 as a protection.

00:15:35.920 --> 00:15:37.840
 And set that word there,

00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:38.500
 the little phrase

00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:39.700
 that sits in between there,

00:15:40.160 --> 00:15:41.779
 means nevertheless.

00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:45.180
 We prayed to our God

00:15:45.180 --> 00:15:46.840
 knowing full well

00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:48.240
 that God's good hand

00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:49.240
 was upon this work.

00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:50.500
 His providence

00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:52.200
 was draped over

00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:53.040
 the work that was

00:15:53.040 --> 00:15:53.720
 happening here.

00:15:53.920 --> 00:15:54.860
 But nevertheless,

00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:56.620
 we set a guard.

00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:58.000
 We did our part.

00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:58.980
 We did the planning.

00:15:59.080 --> 00:16:00.259
 The things that needed

00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.399
 to be done.

00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:04.379
 It's a bit of a tension.

00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:06.700
 And I think that most of us

00:16:06.700 --> 00:16:09.100
 here feel this tension.

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:10.620
 We've seen the sovereignty

00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:11.460
 of God in scriptures

00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:12.120
 and we've seen the

00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:13.159
 responsibility of man.

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.399
 I feel like I've talked

00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.480
 about it at length.

00:16:16.420 --> 00:16:17.220
 But recognize that this

00:16:17.220 --> 00:16:18.080
 tension is everywhere

00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:18.580
 in the scriptures.

00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:19.879
 It doesn't just exist here.

00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:20.940
 Seeing the people of God

00:16:20.940 --> 00:16:22.340
 praying, kneeling,

00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.540
 asking God to work,

00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:24.759
 knowing that without him

00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:25.480
 doing the work,

00:16:25.540 --> 00:16:26.180
 it's not going to get

00:16:26.180 --> 00:16:27.560
 accomplished at all.

00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:29.779
 You see even here

00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:31.540
 that we see in verse 20

00:16:31.540 --> 00:16:34.720
 as Nehemiah's encouraging

00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.240
 the people,

00:16:35.540 --> 00:16:37.019
 talking about the rallying

00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:37.679
 of the people.

00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:38.740
 He's basically saying to

00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:38.919
 them,

00:16:39.199 --> 00:16:39.799
 in the place where you

00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:40.419
 hear the sound of the

00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:40.699
 trumpet,

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.639
 come fight.

00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:43.019
 And his sixth sentence

00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:43.299
 is,

00:16:43.779 --> 00:16:45.980
 our God will fight for us.

00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:47.679
 This full recognition

00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:49.759
 that God was going to

00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:51.199
 have to accomplish it.

00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:51.779
 And yet,

00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:54.139
 we also see that they

00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:54.740
 knew that they were

00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:56.379
 the means by which God

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.500
 would accomplish it.

00:16:57.559 --> 00:16:58.439
 They were the means

00:16:58.439 --> 00:17:00.639
 to the end.

00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:01.559
 This tension is found

00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:02.699
 all throughout the

00:17:02.699 --> 00:17:02.960
 scriptures.

00:17:03.079 --> 00:17:04.579
 Begin to read the Bible

00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.500
 with this in mind

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.839
 and notice all of the

00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:07.920
 places that happens,

00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:09.460
 particularly in Paul's

00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:09.920
 language.

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.579
 He always wants to be

00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:12.519
 so careful as he

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.799
 presents the mightiness

00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.619
 of our God that he

00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:15.420
 doesn't leave out the

00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:15.839
 fact that we're

00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:16.279
 responsible.

00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.500
 And as he presents to

00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:18.180
 us the fact that we're

00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:19.059
 responsible and we have

00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:20.140
 a part to play,

00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:22.460
 he never ever leaves it

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:23.759
 hanging without wrapping

00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:24.799
 it up with the

00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.460
 sovereignty of God.

00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.200
 One example,

00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:28.099
 1 Corinthians 15,

00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:28.859
 verse 10.

00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:29.660
 He says,

00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:30.839
 By the grace of God,

00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:32.640
 I am what I am.

00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:34.079
 And his grace toward me

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:35.059
 was not in vain.

00:17:35.419 --> 00:17:36.339
 On the contrary,

00:17:36.899 --> 00:17:38.500
 I worked harder than

00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:39.119
 any of them,

00:17:39.699 --> 00:17:40.879
 though it was not I,

00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:42.220
 but the grace of God

00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:43.000
 that is with me.

00:17:43.639 --> 00:17:44.919
 It talks about the

00:17:44.919 --> 00:17:45.480
 grace of God,

00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:46.480
 the sovereignty of God

00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:47.779
 and him being who he

00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:48.220
 is.

00:17:49.659 --> 00:17:50.559
 But then he presents

00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.460
 that he worked very

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.899
 hard at being who he

00:17:52.899 --> 00:17:53.359
 is.

00:17:53.679 --> 00:17:54.539
 But just so that we're

00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:55.259
 not unclear,

00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:56.819
 he wraps it back up

00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:57.240
 to say,

00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:58.699
 but it was not I,

00:17:58.819 --> 00:17:59.659
 it was the grace of

00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:01.000
 God that is with me.

00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:03.059
 This tension,

00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:04.240
 if it feels that way

00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:04.500
 for you,

00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.079
 it does for me,

00:18:05.139 --> 00:18:05.700
 it makes my mind

00:18:05.700 --> 00:18:06.399
 want to split open

00:18:06.399 --> 00:18:06.980
 sometimes,

00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:09.240
 exists all throughout

00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:09.859
 the scriptures.

00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:12.319
 God uses his people

00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:14.099
 to accomplish his will,

00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.259
 but it is indeed

00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:17.139
 God who works.

00:18:18.139 --> 00:18:19.319
 So in face of this

00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:20.200
 physical opposition,

00:18:20.619 --> 00:18:22.480
 the possibility that

00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.139
 the wall would be

00:18:23.139 --> 00:18:24.419
 stopped by an attack,

00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:26.240
 they pray,

00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:27.559
 they make a plan,

00:18:27.639 --> 00:18:28.319
 they prepare,

00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:30.079
 they stand at the ready

00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:31.119
 perpetually

00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:32.419
 so that they can

00:18:32.419 --> 00:18:33.739
 complete the wall.

00:18:34.459 --> 00:18:35.039
 But there's a

00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:35.959
 greater danger,

00:18:36.199 --> 00:18:37.379
 a greater opposition

00:18:37.379 --> 00:18:38.639
 that face them here,

00:18:38.899 --> 00:18:40.019
 and that is a

00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:41.439
 spiritual opposition.

00:18:42.439 --> 00:18:43.219
 Presented to you

00:18:43.219 --> 00:18:44.479
 before that the

00:18:44.479 --> 00:18:45.879
 problems we have

00:18:45.879 --> 00:18:47.219
 as people are

00:18:47.219 --> 00:18:47.859
 going to be one

00:18:47.859 --> 00:18:49.679
 of two types of

00:18:49.679 --> 00:18:50.079
 problems.

00:18:50.219 --> 00:18:50.759
 They're either going

00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:51.859
 to be physical or

00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:52.379
 they're going to be

00:18:52.379 --> 00:18:52.739
 spiritual.

00:18:54.899 --> 00:18:55.379
 Ultimately,

00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.239
 the way we think

00:18:56.239 --> 00:18:57.099
 is affected by our

00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:57.419
 spirit.

00:18:58.979 --> 00:18:59.759
 You see here,

00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:00.559
 there's some things

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.619
 happening with them.

00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:03.359
 You see discouragement

00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:05.039
 taking place.

00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:06.579
 And you see fear.

00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.019
 Discouragement,

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:09.799
 chapter 4,

00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:10.420
 verse 10.

00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:12.339
 In Judah it was said,

00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.900
 the strength of those

00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:14.960
 who bear the burdens

00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:14.940
!

00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:15.879
 The burdens is failing!

00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.680
 There is too much

00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.200
 rubble!

00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.700
 By ourselves we will

00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:21.039
 not be able to

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:21.879
 rebuild the wall!

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:23.180
 See that discouragement

00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:24.019
 beginning to set in

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.339
 on them.

00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:26.000
 They're being taunted

00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:27.660
 by the outsiders.

00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:29.420
 My mind goes to

00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:31.320
 Noah building his

00:19:31.320 --> 00:19:32.100
 boat and all his

00:19:32.100 --> 00:19:32.759
 friends coming and

00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:33.380
 making fun of him

00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:34.060
 for building a boat

00:19:34.060 --> 00:19:34.539
 in the middle of

00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:34.920
 the desert.

00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:36.259
 Yet he built on

00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:37.120
 all the same.

00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.200
 Here you see them

00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:38.880
 being taunted,

00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:39.900
 verses 1-3,

00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:41.240
 by Sambalat.

00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.740
 He jeers at the

00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.100
 Jews.

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.019
 And he said in the

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.440
 presence of his

00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:44.920
 brothers in the

00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:45.400
 army of Samaria,

00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:46.380
 what are these

00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:47.180
 feeble Jews doing?

00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:48.759
 Will they restore

00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:49.440
 it for themselves?

00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.140
 These are rhetorical

00:19:50.140 --> 00:19:50.620
 questions.

00:19:51.340 --> 00:19:52.519
 Will they sacrifice?

00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:53.100
 Meaning,

00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:54.240
 will they get it

00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:55.000
 set up in a way

00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:55.740
 in which they can

00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.759
 then turn to

00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.640
 temple service?

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:59.020
 Will they finish

00:19:59.020 --> 00:19:59.640
 up in a day?

00:20:01.040 --> 00:20:03.040
 Will they revive

00:20:03.040 --> 00:20:04.259
 the stones out of

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:05.240
 the heaps of

00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:06.240
 rubbish and

00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.600
 burned ones at

00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:07.880
 that?

00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:09.320
 Mox the work

00:20:09.320 --> 00:20:10.420
 that they're about

00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:10.880
 to be doing.

00:20:11.040 --> 00:20:11.900
 And then his

00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:12.720
 buddy Tobiah

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:14.080
 pipes in and

00:20:14.080 --> 00:20:14.940
 says, yes, what

00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.500
 are they building?

00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:17.120
 If a fox goes up

00:20:17.120 --> 00:20:17.600
 on it, he will

00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:18.600
 break down their

00:20:18.600 --> 00:20:19.200
 stone wall,

00:20:19.280 --> 00:20:20.000
 meaning it doesn't

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.759
 have structure.

00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:21.640
 It's a horribly

00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:23.000
 built wall.

00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:23.900
 And even if a

00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:24.580
 fox were to run

00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:25.060
 up on it, it

00:20:25.060 --> 00:20:26.660
 would just collapse.

00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:27.340
 They're being

00:20:27.340 --> 00:20:28.740
 taunted in this

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.860
 way, and

00:20:29.860 --> 00:20:31.360
 discouragement has

00:20:31.360 --> 00:20:32.740
 begun to set in.

00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:34.820
 How is it that

00:20:34.820 --> 00:20:36.160
 they bear up under

00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:37.779
 that type of

00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.300
 discouragement?

00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.279
 You may have

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.759
 experienced this in

00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.860
 your work for the

00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:42.100
 Lord.

00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:44.720
 Remember the way

00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.480
 that Nehemiah's

00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:46.779
 prayer begins in

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.500
 chapter 1,

00:20:48.040 --> 00:20:48.860
 verse 5.

00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:49.960
 He says,

00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:50.860
 O Lord,

00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.279
 God of heaven.

00:20:53.040 --> 00:20:53.840
 And I presented

00:20:53.840 --> 00:20:54.759
 to you that this

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.720
 Hebrew phrase,

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.140
 was a Hebrew

00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:56.680
 phrase that had

00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:58.160
 become especially

00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:00.600
 important to the

00:21:00.600 --> 00:21:01.299
 Israelites as they

00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.100
 were in Babylonian

00:21:02.100 --> 00:21:02.860
 captivity, as they

00:21:02.860 --> 00:21:03.700
 had spent all of

00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:05.319
 this time abroad.

00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:06.079
 And it meant

00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:07.420
 simply that their

00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:08.360
 God was a God

00:21:08.360 --> 00:21:09.779
 that ruled over

00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:11.000
 everything.

00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:13.779
 Remember chapter 2,

00:21:13.860 --> 00:21:14.500
 verse 20,

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.740
 Nehemiah's response

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.539
 to Sambalot,

00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:17.279
 Tobiah,

00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:17.940
 and Geshem,

00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:19.740
 the God of heaven,

00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:20.860
 same language,

00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:22.720
 will make us

00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:24.100
 prosper.

00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:25.659
 They got through

00:21:25.659 --> 00:21:26.459
 this discouragement

00:21:26.459 --> 00:21:28.079
 by trusting in

00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:28.579
 the sovereign

00:21:28.579 --> 00:21:30.339
 goodness of God.

00:21:31.639 --> 00:21:32.299
 They would have

00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:33.119
 been familiar with

00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:34.879
 Psalm 135,

00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:36.659
 5 and 6,

00:21:36.659 --> 00:21:38.159
 For I know that

00:21:38.159 --> 00:21:39.059
 the Lord is great,

00:21:39.199 --> 00:21:40.359
 and that our Lord

00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:41.799
 is above all gods.

00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:42.939
 Whatever the Lord

00:21:42.939 --> 00:21:43.439
 pleases,

00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.639
 He does,

00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.719
 in heaven and on

00:21:45.719 --> 00:21:46.000
 earth,

00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:46.799
 in the seas,

00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:48.480
 and all the

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.000
 deeps.

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.259
 They knew

00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:51.380
 that the good

00:21:51.380 --> 00:21:52.099
 hand of God

00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:52.920
 had been upon

00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:53.779
 Nehemiah for

00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:54.680
 the good work.

00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.079
 This is the

00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:55.579
 language we're

00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:56.339
 seeing up until

00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:56.880
 this point.

00:21:57.339 --> 00:21:58.500
 They knew that

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.660
 God intended

00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:00.680
 to complete the

00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.599
 wall with

00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:01.960
 them,

00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:03.240
 and therefore,

00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.700
 they knew it

00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.960
 would get

00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:07.180
 done.

00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:08.619
 Let me read to

00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:09.220
 you a little bit

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:10.859
 from Spurgeon

00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:12.740
 on the topic of

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.819
 God's sovereignty.

00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.259
 That's what we're

00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:15.200
 talking about here.

00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:18.360
 There is no

00:22:18.360 --> 00:22:19.460
 attribute more

00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.480
 comforting to

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.400
 His children than

00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:22.580
 that of God's

00:22:22.580 --> 00:22:22.940
 sovereignty.

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.319
 Under the most

00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.680
 adverse circumstances,

00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:26.860
 in the most

00:22:26.860 --> 00:22:27.860
 severe trials,

00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:28.880
 they believe that

00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:29.539
 sovereignty has

00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:30.440
 ordained their

00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:31.600
 afflictions, that

00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:33.000
 sovereignty overrules

00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:34.000
 them, and that

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.860
 sovereignty will

00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:35.740
 sanctify them all.

00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.240
 There is nothing

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:37.779
 for which the

00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:38.640
 children ought more

00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:39.500
 earnestly to

00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.600
 contend than the

00:22:40.600 --> 00:22:41.319
 doctrine of their

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:42.380
 master over all

00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:42.860
 creation.

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.519
 The kingship of

00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.559
 God over all

00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.359
 the works of

00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:47.200
 His own hands,

00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:48.460
 the throne of

00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.220
 God and His

00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:50.160
 right to sit

00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:50.819
 upon that

00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.220
 throne.

00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:52.759
 On the other

00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:54.019
 hand, there is

00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.940
 no doctrine more

00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:55.819
 hated by

00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:57.039
 worldings, no

00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.740
 truth of which

00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.599
 they have made

00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:59.539
 such a football

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.500
 as the great,

00:23:00.879 --> 00:23:01.940
 stupendous, but

00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.779
 yet most certain

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.940
 doctrine of the

00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:04.720
 sovereignty of

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.339
 the infinite

00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:06.279
 Jehovah.

00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:08.180
 Men will allow

00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:08.819
 God to be

00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:10.279
 everywhere except

00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.119
 on His throne.

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.339
 They will allow

00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:13.139
 Him to be in

00:23:13.139 --> 00:23:14.059
 His workshop to

00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:15.000
 fashion worlds

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:16.019
 and make stars.

00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.240
 They will allow

00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:17.919
 Him to be in

00:23:17.919 --> 00:23:19.059
 His almanry to

00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:19.740
 dispense His

00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.960
 alms and bestow

00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:21.740
 His bounties.

00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.059
 They will allow

00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:23.980
 Him to sustain

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.759
 the earth and

00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.299
 bear up the

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.099
 pillars thereof,

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:27.039
 or light the

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.700
 lamps of heaven,

00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:28.740
 or rule the

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.299
 waves of the

00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:29.799
 ever-moving

00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:30.179
 ocean.

00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.319
 But when God

00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:31.940
 ascends His

00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:32.819
 throne, His

00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.599
 creatures then

00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.740
 gnash their

00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:35.179
 teeth.

00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:36.599
 But we

00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:37.879
 proclaim and

00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:38.799
 enthrone God,

00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:40.039
 and His right

00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.839
 to do as He

00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:41.539
 wills with His

00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:42.919
 own, to dispose of

00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.539
 His creatures as

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.240
 He thinks well,

00:23:44.300 --> 00:23:45.039
 without consulting

00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.519
 them in the

00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.700
 matter, then it

00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:47.400
 is that we are

00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.100
 hissed and

00:23:48.100 --> 00:23:49.240
 execrated, and

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.779
 then it is that

00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.840
 men turn a deaf

00:23:50.840 --> 00:23:51.620
 ear to us.

00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:52.820
 For God on His

00:23:52.820 --> 00:23:53.680
 throne is not

00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:54.700
 the God they

00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.860
 love, but it

00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:56.600
 is the God upon

00:23:56.600 --> 00:23:57.779
 the throne that

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.440
 we love.

00:23:58.779 --> 00:24:00.080
 It is God upon

00:24:00.080 --> 00:24:01.940
 His throne whom

00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.680
 we trust.

00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:05.420
 That is the

00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:07.600
 great encouragement

00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:09.139
 judgment, when

00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:09.740
 we are feeling

00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:11.459
 discouraged, that

00:24:11.459 --> 00:24:13.019
 our God reigns

00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:14.079
 over the

00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:14.459
 work.

00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:15.959
 We talked

00:24:15.959 --> 00:24:16.419
 about how

00:24:16.419 --> 00:24:17.059
 Nehemiah's

00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:17.639
 prayer in

00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:19.439
 chapter 1 was

00:24:19.439 --> 00:24:21.019
 saturated in

00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:21.740
 the Word of

00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.039
 God.

00:24:22.399 --> 00:24:23.399
 He knew what

00:24:23.399 --> 00:24:24.099
 God attempted

00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:25.740
 to accomplish

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.579
 with His

00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.059
 people, and

00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.480
 therefore he

00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.219
 could confidently

00:24:28.219 --> 00:24:30.319
 lay hold of

00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:30.939
 those promises.

00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.159
 Beloved, we

00:24:32.159 --> 00:24:33.819
 must study God's

00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:34.480
 Word and know

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.079
 His promises.

00:24:35.919 --> 00:24:36.819
 If we know

00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.539
 them, we can

00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:38.460
 know that

00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:39.059
 they are

00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:39.960
 sure.

00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.740
 The second

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.899
 condition I see

00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:44.279
 here in

00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:45.480
 chapter 4 is

00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:45.940
 fear.

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.539
 Spiritual

00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:47.420
 opposition to

00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:48.779
 them is this

00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.680
 fear, right?

00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.519
 There's a great

00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.359
 force, a mighty

00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:51.659
 force.

00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.339
 The armies of

00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:53.099
 Samaria are

00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:53.740
 going to come

00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:55.240
 against them and

00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:56.099
 stop the building

00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:57.079
 of the wall.

00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:58.279
 Chapter 4, 11,

00:24:58.359 --> 00:24:59.480
 and 12 says,

00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.159
 And our enemy

00:25:00.159 --> 00:25:00.779
 said they will

00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.659
 not know or

00:25:01.659 --> 00:25:02.339
 see till we

00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:02.839
 come among

00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:03.559
 them and kill

00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:04.859
 them and stop

00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:05.440
 the work.

00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.240
 Then you see in

00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:06.859
 verse 12,

00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:07.539
 at that time

00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:08.039
 the Jews who

00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:08.379
 lived near

00:25:08.379 --> 00:25:08.819
 them came

00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.159
 from all

00:25:09.159 --> 00:25:09.639
 directions and

00:25:09.639 --> 00:25:09.979
 said to us

00:25:09.979 --> 00:25:10.699
 ten times,

00:25:11.099 --> 00:25:11.719
 you must

00:25:11.719 --> 00:25:12.659
 return to

00:25:12.659 --> 00:25:13.039
 us.

00:25:13.639 --> 00:25:14.319
 What's happening

00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:14.719
 is the people

00:25:14.719 --> 00:25:15.159
 who are living

00:25:15.159 --> 00:25:15.659
 in the perimeter

00:25:15.659 --> 00:25:16.259
 who aren't

00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:16.639
 coming and

00:25:16.639 --> 00:25:17.019
 building the

00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.539
 wall are

00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:17.939
 coming to

00:25:17.939 --> 00:25:18.219
 the city

00:25:18.219 --> 00:25:18.419
 and they're

00:25:18.419 --> 00:25:18.759
 saying,

00:25:19.159 --> 00:25:20.159
 listen, we

00:25:20.159 --> 00:25:20.619
 are hearing

00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.119
 news that

00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:21.539
 they are going

00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.079
 to come and

00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:22.519
 kill you.

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.539
 They're forming

00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.419
 armies to

00:25:24.419 --> 00:25:25.079
 come and kill

00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:25.559
 you and stop

00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:25.839
 the building

00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.219
 of the wall.

00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:27.259
 Please come

00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:27.699
 back to the

00:25:27.699 --> 00:25:28.059
 suburbs.

00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:29.719
 Come on

00:25:29.719 --> 00:25:30.279
 back out to

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.759
 the houses

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.679
 and live.

00:25:31.899 --> 00:25:32.359
 Let's tend

00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:32.919
 our sheep.

00:25:33.159 --> 00:25:33.779
 Let's look

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.240
 after our

00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:34.779
 gardens and

00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.559
 stop the

00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.439
 building of the

00:25:36.859 --> 00:25:38.179
 ten times.

00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:38.759
 There's an

00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:39.799
 urgency here

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.579
 to get them

00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:42.019
 to return.

00:25:43.399 --> 00:25:43.899
 So how do

00:25:43.899 --> 00:25:45.279
 they stand

00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:45.519
 up?

00:25:45.639 --> 00:25:46.619
 How do they

00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:47.679
 work in

00:25:47.679 --> 00:25:48.419
 light of

00:25:48.419 --> 00:25:49.319
 that type

00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:50.059
 of opposition?

00:25:51.179 --> 00:25:51.619
 You see in

00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.199
 verse 6 of

00:25:52.199 --> 00:25:52.859
 chapter 4

00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.839
 this record

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.199
 that the

00:25:54.199 --> 00:25:55.059
 people had

00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:56.199
 a mind

00:25:56.199 --> 00:25:56.959
 to work.

00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.139
 The Hebrew

00:25:58.139 --> 00:25:58.559
 word there

00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.299
 means so much

00:25:59.299 --> 00:25:59.699
 more than

00:25:59.699 --> 00:26:00.399
 just mind.

00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:01.059
 It means that

00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:01.419
 they had

00:26:01.419 --> 00:26:02.279
 hearts to

00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:02.479
 work.

00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:02.879
 It means that

00:26:02.879 --> 00:26:03.679
 their very

00:26:03.679 --> 00:26:05.199
 being was set

00:26:05.199 --> 00:26:06.240
 to the work.

00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:06.920
 In chapter

00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:07.539
 2 we saw

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:07.759
 that they

00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.279
 strengthened

00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:09.220
 their hands

00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:09.500
 and had

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:09.920
 that same

00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:11.859
 feeling to

00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:11.980
 it.

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.200
 That they

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:12.460
 made

00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:12.940
 themselves

00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:14.200
 resolute

00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:15.160
 for the

00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:15.859
 work that

00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:16.900
 was ahead

00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:17.279
 of them.

00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:18.700
 And then

00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:18.920
 you see

00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:19.380
 Nehemiah's

00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:19.940
 response in

00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:20.720
 verse 14.

00:26:21.859 --> 00:26:22.220
 Do not

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:22.839
 be afraid

00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.259
 of them.

00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.200
 Remember

00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:25.019
 what?

00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:26.000
 The

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.319
 Lord.

00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:28.460
 Who is

00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:29.140
 great

00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:30.480
 and

00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.420
 awesome.

00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:32.960
 We saw

00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:33.519
 that same

00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.079
 language in

00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:34.619
 his prayer

00:26:34.619 --> 00:26:35.119
 in chapter

00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.500
 1.

00:26:35.879 --> 00:26:36.139
 Who is

00:26:36.139 --> 00:26:37.539
 great and

00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:37.960
 awesome.

00:26:38.419 --> 00:26:39.439
 Who rules

00:26:39.439 --> 00:26:40.939
 over everything

00:26:40.939 --> 00:26:41.779
 his greatness.

00:26:42.659 --> 00:26:43.399
 Who stands

00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:43.899
 above,

00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.299
 who has

00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.139
 power over

00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:45.939
 everything

00:26:45.939 --> 00:26:47.579
 and is

00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.299
 awesome.

00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:48.939
 Strikes

00:26:48.939 --> 00:26:50.439
 fear in

00:26:50.439 --> 00:26:50.960
 the hearts

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.619
 of his

00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:51.919
 enemies.

00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.740
 This is

00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.220
 what we are

00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:54.819
 to remember

00:26:54.819 --> 00:26:56.139
 when we're

00:26:56.139 --> 00:26:56.599
 afraid.

00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.659
 Remember the

00:26:58.659 --> 00:26:59.699
 Lord who is

00:26:59.699 --> 00:27:01.220
 great and

00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:01.539
 awesome.

00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:03.500
 Psalm 28,

00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:04.460
 7 and 8

00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:04.980
 says,

00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:05.700
 The Lord is

00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:06.379
 my strength

00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:06.759
 and my

00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.099
 shield.

00:27:07.619 --> 00:27:08.180
 In him

00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:08.700
 my heart

00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.659
 trusts and

00:27:09.659 --> 00:27:09.960
 I am

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.460
 helped.

00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:11.319
 My heart

00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:12.119
 exults and

00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:12.839
 with song I

00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:13.279
 give thanks

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:13.680
 to him.

00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:14.599
 The Lord

00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:15.000
 is the

00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.500
 strength of

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:15.940
 his people.

00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:16.259
 He is

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:16.920
 the saving

00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:18.659
 refuge of

00:27:18.659 --> 00:27:18.799
 his

00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.159
 anointed.

00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:20.440
 Jeremiah

00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:21.279
 32,

00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:22.019
 verse 40,

00:27:22.659 --> 00:27:22.899
 I will

00:27:22.899 --> 00:27:23.399
 make with

00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:23.819
 them an

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.440
 everlasting

00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:25.159
 covenant that

00:27:25.159 --> 00:27:25.960
 I will not

00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.680
 turn away

00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:27.279
 from doing

00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:29.159
 good to

00:27:29.159 --> 00:27:29.480
 them.

00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:30.480
 You

00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.420
 notice so

00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:32.259
 far as

00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:32.680
 our study

00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:33.220
 in Nehemiah

00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:34.019
 keep drawing

00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.900
 us back

00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:36.000
 to scripture

00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.480
 that they

00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:36.960
 would have

00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.460
 had.

00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:38.559
 I want you

00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:39.240
 to see that

00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:40.059
 these people

00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:41.299
 knew scriptures

00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:42.200
 of God.

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:42.720
 They had

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.079
 been given

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.559
 to them.

00:27:43.620 --> 00:27:44.099
 They had

00:27:44.099 --> 00:27:44.839
 proper

00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.779
 motivation

00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.480
 by which

00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:46.900
 to do

00:27:46.900 --> 00:27:47.740
 this work

00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:48.180
 because they

00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:49.480
 trusted in

00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:50.019
 their sovereign

00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:51.079
 Lord.

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.380
 So we saw

00:27:53.380 --> 00:27:53.620
 that the

00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:54.160
 wall was

00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.559
 completed.

00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.360
 That's why

00:27:56.360 --> 00:27:56.960
 I jumped

00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:57.860
 to chapter

00:27:57.860 --> 00:27:58.440
 6.

00:27:58.440 --> 00:28:00.039
 So in

00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:00.700
 spite of

00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:00.880
 this

00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:01.420
 opposition,

00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.039
 both the

00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:02.420
 physical

00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:03.080
 and the

00:28:03.080 --> 00:28:03.380
 spiritual

00:28:03.380 --> 00:28:03.860
 opposition,

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:04.480
 the work

00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.460
 continued.

00:28:06.360 --> 00:28:06.700
 And the

00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:07.019
 wall was

00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.779
 finished in

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.779
 52 days.

00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:09.660
 And when

00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:10.180
 all the

00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:10.420
 enemies

00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:10.779
 heard of

00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:10.880
 it,

00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:11.519
 verse 16,

00:28:11.660 --> 00:28:12.240
 all the

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:12.559
 nations

00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:13.080
 around us

00:28:13.080 --> 00:28:13.759
 were afraid

00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:14.580
 and fell

00:28:14.580 --> 00:28:15.240
 greatly in

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.580
 their own

00:28:15.580 --> 00:28:16.120
 esteem.

00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:16.920
 They said,

00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:18.059
 we are not

00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:18.519
 rulers of

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.019
 this world.

00:28:19.820 --> 00:28:20.460
 We ought

00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:20.940
 not think

00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:21.519
 so highly

00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.320
 of ourselves

00:28:22.320 --> 00:28:23.680
 for they

00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:24.160
 perceived

00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:24.580
 that this

00:28:24.580 --> 00:28:25.059
 work had

00:28:25.059 --> 00:28:25.700
 been accomplished

00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:26.559
 with the

00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:27.519
 help of

00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.100
 our God.

00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:30.480
 So how

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:30.720
 is it

00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.019
 then that

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.460
 we should

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:32.200
 work in

00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:32.500
 the face

00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.039
 of opposition?

00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:34.160
 We take

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:34.840
 this narrative

00:28:34.840 --> 00:28:35.140
 and we

00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:35.660
 apply it

00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:35.920
 to our

00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:36.360
 very own

00:28:36.360 --> 00:28:36.620
 living.

00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:38.519
 Firstly,

00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:40.019
 we should

00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:41.279
 trust in

00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:41.620
 the sovereign

00:28:41.620 --> 00:28:42.100
 goodness of

00:28:42.100 --> 00:28:42.340
 God.

00:28:43.400 --> 00:28:44.100
 We should

00:28:44.100 --> 00:28:44.559
 trust in

00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:44.900
 the sovereign

00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:45.380
 goodness of

00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:46.420
 God as

00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.120
 His people.

00:28:48.080 --> 00:28:48.380
 As He is

00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:49.019
 redeeming the

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.519
 church for

00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.019
 Himself,

00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:50.519
 we should

00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.580
 trust in

00:28:51.580 --> 00:28:52.059
 the sovereign

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:53.820
 goodness of

00:28:53.820 --> 00:28:54.240
 our God.

00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:54.980
 Turn with

00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:55.320
 me to the

00:28:55.320 --> 00:28:55.580
 book of

00:28:55.580 --> 00:28:56.100
 Ephesians,

00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:56.840
 chapter 2.

00:28:58.440 --> 00:28:59.860
 You can

00:28:59.860 --> 00:29:00.559
 leave Nehemiah

00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:00.900
 behind.

00:29:01.120 --> 00:29:01.259
 You don't

00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:01.500
 have to

00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:01.759
 mark it

00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:01.940
 with your

00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:02.140
 hand.

00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:15.360
 The very

00:29:15.360 --> 00:29:15.860
 greatest

00:29:15.860 --> 00:29:17.420
 expression to

00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:18.059
 us of

00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:18.640
 God's sovereign

00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:19.940
 goodness is

00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:20.460
 the person

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:20.880
 and the

00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:21.880
 work of

00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:22.539
 Jesus Christ.

00:29:23.600 --> 00:29:24.279
 Christ

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:26.080
 crucified and

00:29:26.080 --> 00:29:26.880
 resurrected on

00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:27.500
 our behalf.

00:29:28.040 --> 00:29:28.360
 Ephesians,

00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:28.800
 chapter 2,

00:29:28.840 --> 00:29:29.200
 beginning in

00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.800
 verse 17.

00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:31.320
 He, being

00:29:31.320 --> 00:29:32.220
 Christ, came

00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:33.100
 and preached

00:29:33.100 --> 00:29:33.740
 peace to you

00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.240
 who are far

00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:35.080
 off and

00:29:35.080 --> 00:29:35.580
 peace to

00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:36.120
 those who

00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:36.500
 were near.

00:29:37.060 --> 00:29:37.580
 For through

00:29:37.580 --> 00:29:38.560
 Him we

00:29:38.560 --> 00:29:39.040
 both have

00:29:39.040 --> 00:29:39.780
 access in

00:29:39.780 --> 00:29:40.400
 one spirit

00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:40.700
 to the

00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:41.000
 Father.

00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.180
 So then you

00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:42.840
 are no longer

00:29:42.840 --> 00:29:43.540
 strangers and

00:29:43.540 --> 00:29:44.060
 aliens, but

00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:44.560
 you are fellow

00:29:44.560 --> 00:29:45.180
 citizens with

00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:45.860
 the saints and

00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:46.380
 members of

00:29:46.380 --> 00:29:46.780
 the household

00:29:46.780 --> 00:29:47.260
 of God,

00:29:47.800 --> 00:29:48.340
 built on the

00:29:48.340 --> 00:29:49.080
 foundation of

00:29:49.080 --> 00:29:49.560
 the apostles

00:29:49.560 --> 00:29:50.320
 and prophets,

00:29:50.820 --> 00:29:51.460
 Christ Jesus

00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.640
 Himself being

00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:53.400
 the cornerstone,

00:29:53.820 --> 00:29:54.400
 in whom the

00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:55.140
 whole structure

00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:56.040
 being joined

00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:56.859
 together grows

00:29:56.859 --> 00:29:57.480
 into a holy

00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:58.079
 temple in

00:29:58.079 --> 00:29:58.460
 the Lord.

00:29:58.899 --> 00:29:59.659
 In Him you

00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:00.420
 also are being

00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:01.099
 built together

00:30:01.099 --> 00:30:01.819
 into a dwelling

00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:03.240
 place for God

00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:04.259
 by the Spirit.

00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:06.079
 Catch all that

00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:06.359
 language.

00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.379
 Again, I've been

00:30:07.379 --> 00:30:08.480
 drawing you to

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.980
 1 Peter, but

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.799
 here we see in

00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.700
 Ephesians Paul

00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.460
 using the same

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.200
 type of language

00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:13.859
 about us being

00:30:13.859 --> 00:30:15.460
 built up into

00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.159
 a structure,

00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:17.019
 calls it here a

00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:18.399
 holy temple in

00:30:18.399 --> 00:30:19.339
 the Lord, a

00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:20.319
 dwelling place for

00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:21.339
 God by the

00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:22.240
 Spirit with

00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.240
 Jesus Christ

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:25.019
 Himself being

00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.759
 the cornerstone.

00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:27.579
 Cornerstone was

00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:28.180
 significant.

00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:29.039
 It set all

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.759
 things right.

00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:30.460
 It was the

00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:31.200
 measure by which

00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:32.319
 everything else

00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:33.099
 was taken.

00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:34.259
 It's how the

00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:34.940
 building came

00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:36.119
 together properly.

00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:36.899
 You can't miss

00:30:36.899 --> 00:30:37.259
 that.

00:30:37.579 --> 00:30:38.319
 The language of

00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:38.899
 cornerstone doesn't

00:30:38.899 --> 00:30:39.440
 make a lot of

00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:40.200
 sense to us.

00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:41.559
 Probably not even

00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:42.180
 to modern day

00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:43.000
 builders, but for

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.559
 most of us we

00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:44.220
 don't build

00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:44.839
 buildings.

00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:46.019
 We don't know

00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:46.460
 what that would

00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.440
 even look like.

00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.279
 This was incredibly

00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:49.759
 significant language

00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.159
 to them.

00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:51.440
 It means that

00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:52.740
 without Christ,

00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:53.740
 and Christ

00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.779
 crucified and

00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:56.319
 resurrected, none

00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:57.160
 of this holds

00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:57.559
 together.

00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:58.899
 All of our

00:30:58.899 --> 00:31:00.079
 great efforts at

00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:00.819
 church and being

00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:01.579
 religious and

00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.220
 trying to build

00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:03.119
 something for God

00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:05.059
 is totally failed

00:31:05.059 --> 00:31:06.200
 apart from

00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:06.700
 Christ.

00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.639
 Remember that it's

00:31:08.639 --> 00:31:09.859
 through Him we

00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:10.980
 have access in

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:12.339
 one Spirit to

00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:12.700
 the Father.

00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.559
 We're no longer

00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:14.399
 strangers and

00:31:14.399 --> 00:31:14.740
 aliens.

00:31:14.859 --> 00:31:15.899
 We are now part

00:31:15.899 --> 00:31:16.700
 of the household

00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.960
 of God, and

00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:19.099
 this is God's

00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:20.240
 sovereign goodness

00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.220
 to us.

00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:21.940
 we'll look

00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:23.400
 beyond and

00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:24.160
 go further

00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:25.559
 into some

00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:26.299
 of that reality

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:26.759
 of God's

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.319
 sovereign goodness

00:31:27.319 --> 00:31:28.220
 here momentarily.

00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:29.960
 Look on down

00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:30.759
 in the book of

00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.440
 Ephesians, or

00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:32.759
 over, depending

00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:34.700
 on your media

00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:35.400
 that you're using,

00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:36.960
 to chapter 6.

00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.759
 Paul begins to

00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:39.500
 conclude his letter

00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:39.960
 in this way,

00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:40.600
 verse 10,

00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:42.720
 looking at the

00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:43.420
 work that's ahead

00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:44.279
 of us, finally be

00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:45.240
 strong in the Lord

00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:46.039
 and in the strength

00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:46.880
 of His might.

00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.360
 Put on the whole

00:31:48.360 --> 00:31:48.900
 armor of God

00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:49.319
 that you may be

00:31:49.319 --> 00:31:49.779
 able to stand

00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.500
 against the schemes

00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.059
 of the devil.

00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:51.940
 For we do not

00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:52.480
 wrestle against

00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:53.220
 flesh and blood,

00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:53.940
 but against the

00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:54.700
 rulers, against

00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.380
 the authorities,

00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:56.259
 against the

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.140
 cosmic powers

00:31:57.140 --> 00:31:57.599
 over this

00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:58.380
 present darkness,

00:31:58.880 --> 00:31:59.339
 against the

00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:00.099
 spiritual forces

00:32:00.099 --> 00:32:01.160
 of evil in

00:32:01.160 --> 00:32:01.480
 the heavenly

00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:01.920
 places.

00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:02.339
 There's our

00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:03.119
 challenge, there's

00:32:03.119 --> 00:32:03.900
 our opposition

00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:04.779
 to us.

00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:05.799
 Verse 13,

00:32:06.140 --> 00:32:06.720
 therefore take

00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:07.079
 up the whole

00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:07.559
 armor of God

00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:08.019
 that you may be

00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:08.720
 able to withstand

00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:09.240
 in the evil

00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:10.240
 day, and having

00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:11.099
 done all to

00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:11.920
 stand firm,

00:32:12.380 --> 00:32:13.079
 stand therefore

00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:13.940
 having fastened

00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:14.599
 on the belt of

00:32:14.599 --> 00:32:15.460
 truth, and having

00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:16.000
 put on the

00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.519
 breastplate of

00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.420
 righteousness, and

00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:18.000
 as shoes for

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.380
 your feet,

00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:18.900
 having put on

00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:19.319
 the readiness

00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:19.980
 given by the

00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.480
 gospel of

00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:20.839
 peace.

00:32:21.339 --> 00:32:21.740
 In all

00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.599
 circumstances, take

00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:23.000
 up the shield

00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.819
 of faith with

00:32:23.819 --> 00:32:24.279
 which you can

00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:25.059
 extinguish all

00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:25.460
 the flaming

00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:26.140
 darts of the

00:32:26.140 --> 00:32:27.059
 evil one, and

00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:27.599
 take the helmet

00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:28.799
 of salvation and

00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:29.420
 the sword of the

00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:30.000
 spirit, which is

00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:30.779
 the word of God,

00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:31.819
 praying at all

00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:32.460
 times in the

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.480
 spirit with all

00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.460
 prayer and

00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:35.339
 supplication, or

00:32:35.339 --> 00:32:37.319
 petitioning in

00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:37.839
 that way.

00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:40.279
 can you kind of

00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:39.839
 you can't

00:32:39.839 --> 00:32:40.279
 can you kind of

00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:40.939
 get the picture

00:32:40.939 --> 00:32:42.259
 I do of the

00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:43.379
 workers of the

00:32:43.379 --> 00:32:43.959
 wall in

00:32:43.959 --> 00:32:44.720
 Nehemiah's day

00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:45.639
 with a load on

00:32:45.639 --> 00:32:46.339
 one arm and

00:32:46.339 --> 00:32:47.339
 the sword in the

00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:47.899
 other hand or

00:32:47.899 --> 00:32:48.659
 the spear in the

00:32:48.659 --> 00:32:49.699
 other hand, they

00:32:49.699 --> 00:32:51.059
 got themselves ready

00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:52.439
 for this work that

00:32:52.439 --> 00:32:53.199
 was ahead of us, and

00:32:53.199 --> 00:32:54.119
 here we see that

00:32:54.119 --> 00:32:55.099
 we're to be strong in

00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:56.019
 the Lord and the

00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:56.919
 strength of his

00:32:56.919 --> 00:32:57.740
 might, and how do

00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.419
 we do that?

00:32:58.819 --> 00:32:59.000
 Right?

00:32:59.079 --> 00:33:00.019
 We put on these

00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:01.419
 things here called

00:33:01.419 --> 00:33:03.059
 the armor of God,

00:33:03.059 --> 00:33:03.859
 and notice what

00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:04.659
 they are, they're

00:33:04.659 --> 00:33:06.359
 truth, righteousness,

00:33:07.079 --> 00:33:08.779
 readiness, faith,

00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:10.799
 salvation, the

00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:12.099
 word of God, and

00:33:12.099 --> 00:33:12.559
 prayer.

00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:15.299
 Now I wish we had

00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:16.440
 time to expound

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.079
 this in its

00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:17.599
 entirety.

00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:18.919
 Someday we will

00:33:18.919 --> 00:33:19.299
 go through the

00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:19.879
 book of Ephesians

00:33:19.879 --> 00:33:20.399
 and we will do

00:33:20.399 --> 00:33:21.079
 that very thing.

00:33:21.159 --> 00:33:22.299
 There's so much

00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:23.299
 that all of this

00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.559
 means, but simply

00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.559
 we can simply

00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:26.720
 boil these things

00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:28.259
 down, probably in

00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:29.339
 an over simple

00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:31.399
 way, to say that

00:33:31.399 --> 00:33:32.679
 we need to know

00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.940
 the truth of God,

00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:35.700
 who we are in

00:33:35.700 --> 00:33:36.779
 Christ, the gospel,

00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:37.880
 right?

00:33:38.120 --> 00:33:38.740
 And we need to

00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:39.039
 pray.

00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:40.940
 The word of God

00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.720
 being the bread of

00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:43.560
 life, the prayer

00:33:43.560 --> 00:33:45.299
 being the breath of

00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:45.620
 life.

00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:46.900
 Remember those two

00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:47.360
 things.

00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:48.779
 The word of God

00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:49.500
 is the bread of

00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:49.860
 life.

00:33:50.380 --> 00:33:51.560
 It's our sustenance.

00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:53.820
 And prayer is the

00:33:53.820 --> 00:33:56.019
 breath of life.

00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:57.580
 I'll give you an

00:33:57.580 --> 00:33:58.380
 example from my

00:33:58.380 --> 00:33:58.759
 week.

00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:00.860
 I was feeling

00:34:00.860 --> 00:34:02.299
 rather discouraged

00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:03.539
 this week and it

00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:04.160
 wasn't something I

00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:05.200
 really realized was

00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:05.900
 happening until

00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:06.320
 later.

00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:08.000
 It worked its way

00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:09.019
 kind of up out of

00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:10.139
 my heart and to

00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:11.000
 my head until I

00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:11.900
 kind of stopped and

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:13.059
 assessed what was

00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:13.980
 going on with me.

00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:15.220
 But I had allowed

00:34:15.220 --> 00:34:16.340
 the father of lies

00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:17.500
 to tell me a lie and

00:34:17.500 --> 00:34:18.519
 I began to believe it.

00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.139
 I just began to be

00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:19.639
 discouraged.

00:34:20.180 --> 00:34:21.180
 Totally unwarranted.

00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.519
 Completely unwarranted.

00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.900
 But discouraged about

00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:24.680
 the work that's

00:34:24.680 --> 00:34:25.400
 happening here at

00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:26.260
 Christ Family Church.

00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:26.760
 Saying that we're

00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:27.460
 never going to

00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:28.220
 accomplish some of

00:34:28.220 --> 00:34:28.920
 the goals that are

00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:30.220
 set out before us.

00:34:30.340 --> 00:34:31.539
 That I feel so alone

00:34:31.539 --> 00:34:32.000
 in the work I'm

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.159
 doing.

00:34:32.259 --> 00:34:33.239
 I'm inadequate for

00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:33.739
 the work I'm

00:34:33.739 --> 00:34:34.019
 doing.

00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:35.800
 And these lies began

00:34:35.800 --> 00:34:36.619
 to work around in

00:34:36.619 --> 00:34:36.739
 me.

00:34:36.779 --> 00:34:37.539
 And again, not up

00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:38.320
 here but down in

00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:38.699
 here.

00:34:39.099 --> 00:34:39.500
 And I just found

00:34:39.500 --> 00:34:40.179
 myself feeling really

00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:41.259
 unmotivated at the

00:34:41.259 --> 00:34:41.820
 beginning of this

00:34:41.820 --> 00:34:42.039
 week.

00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:43.519
 Just kind of open up

00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:44.800
 to read and reading

00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:45.980
 Nehemiah and reading

00:34:45.980 --> 00:34:46.840
 just the narrative on

00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:47.400
 the surface.

00:34:47.579 --> 00:34:47.940
 I'm just going,

00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:50.480
 okay, they built the

00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:50.719
 wall.

00:34:50.840 --> 00:34:51.860
 They set a guard.

00:34:52.380 --> 00:34:52.980
 What are we going to

00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:53.900
 talk about this Sunday?

00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:55.000
 How does this apply

00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:55.559
 to our lives?

00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.219
 I just don't know.

00:34:56.279 --> 00:34:56.900
 So I'd close it and

00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:57.400
 I'd move on to

00:34:57.400 --> 00:34:58.000
 something else.

00:34:58.179 --> 00:34:59.340
 And just lacking this

00:34:59.340 --> 00:35:00.320
 real motivation.

00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:01.440
 It finally bubbled

00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:02.380
 up enough that I

00:35:02.380 --> 00:35:03.559
 realized I was acting

00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:04.140
 in this way.

00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:05.340
 Why am I feeling so

00:35:05.340 --> 00:35:06.400
 unmotivated this week?

00:35:06.460 --> 00:35:08.000
 Why can I not sit down

00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:09.420
 and focus and get the

00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:10.620
 work done that's in

00:35:10.620 --> 00:35:11.100
 front of me?

00:35:11.300 --> 00:35:12.700
 And I realized that I

00:35:12.700 --> 00:35:13.880
 was being discouraged.

00:35:14.120 --> 00:35:16.180
 I was believing all of

00:35:16.180 --> 00:35:17.140
 these lies that were

00:35:17.140 --> 00:35:17.820
 being told to me.

00:35:18.180 --> 00:35:19.059
 And this is when God

00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:20.120
 really began to

00:35:20.120 --> 00:35:21.480
 minister to me with

00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:22.340
 the lives of these

00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:22.760
 people.

00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:25.320
 I had really forgotten

00:35:25.320 --> 00:35:25.860
 the gospel.

00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:27.760
 Forgotten who I was

00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:28.580
 in Christ.

00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:30.000
 And that's a complete

00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:30.700
 work of Him.

00:35:31.040 --> 00:35:31.880
 He has accomplished

00:35:31.880 --> 00:35:32.140
 it.

00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:34.140
 He's done all of that.

00:35:34.640 --> 00:35:35.880
 Certainly God works

00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:37.020
 through faithful people,

00:35:37.240 --> 00:35:39.920
 but it is God who works.

00:35:41.080 --> 00:35:42.280
 I take great hope and

00:35:42.280 --> 00:35:43.920
 encouragement in my time

00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:45.260
 of discouragement in

00:35:45.260 --> 00:35:46.840
 knowing that God has a

00:35:46.840 --> 00:35:47.200
 plan.

00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:49.080
 And it will, in fact,

00:35:49.620 --> 00:35:50.900
 come to fruition.

00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:51.019
 salvation.

00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:52.860
 No doubt about that.

00:35:54.860 --> 00:35:56.720
 We believe highly in the

00:35:56.720 --> 00:35:57.539
 sovereignty of God here,

00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:58.360
 not because it's our

00:35:58.360 --> 00:35:59.619
 particular thing, it's our

00:35:59.619 --> 00:36:00.639
 flavor, we want to pick it

00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:01.400
 up, but because the

00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:03.220
 scriptures tell us that

00:36:03.220 --> 00:36:03.820
 God is sovereign.

00:36:04.539 --> 00:36:05.880
 It's all over in here.

00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:08.500
 We believe in the

00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:09.740
 doctrines of grace, as

00:36:09.740 --> 00:36:10.579
 they're commonly called.

00:36:12.380 --> 00:36:13.400
 Some of you may wrestle

00:36:13.400 --> 00:36:13.960
 with some of these.

00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:14.920
 I still do.

00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:17.559
 The famous tulip,

00:36:17.880 --> 00:36:18.059
 right?

00:36:18.680 --> 00:36:19.900
 Total depravity, who we

00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:20.240
 are.

00:36:20.900 --> 00:36:22.400
 Before Christ.

00:36:23.260 --> 00:36:24.139
 No good at all.

00:36:24.240 --> 00:36:25.360
 Sin has totally spoiled

00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:25.740
 us.

00:36:26.700 --> 00:36:27.960
 My righteousness prior to

00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:29.079
 Christ was as filthy

00:36:29.079 --> 00:36:29.400
 rags.

00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:31.579
 Nothing I can do that's

00:36:31.579 --> 00:36:32.980
 good on my own.

00:36:33.820 --> 00:36:34.980
 It ends in the beautiful

00:36:34.980 --> 00:36:35.559
 doctrine of the

00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:36.320
 perseverance of the

00:36:36.320 --> 00:36:36.740
 saints.

00:36:37.559 --> 00:36:39.079
 The last one, the end

00:36:39.079 --> 00:36:41.220
 cap on this, is that

00:36:41.220 --> 00:36:42.680
 once we are gods, we

00:36:42.680 --> 00:36:43.900
 are gods forever.

00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:46.220
 There's no undoing that.

00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:47.300
 Once we're in his hand,

00:36:47.700 --> 00:36:48.720
 nothing can take us out

00:36:48.720 --> 00:36:49.619
 of his hand, even

00:36:49.619 --> 00:36:50.559
 ourselves.

00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:51.339
 Right?

00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:53.539
 Can't remove myself from

00:36:53.539 --> 00:36:54.159
 God's hand.

00:36:54.219 --> 00:36:55.519
 And you see the work of

00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:57.420
 the Trinity in those

00:36:57.420 --> 00:36:58.519
 middle three, which are

00:36:58.519 --> 00:36:59.739
 unconditional election.

00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:01.480
 God has made a plan

00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:03.259
 before the foundation of

00:37:03.259 --> 00:37:03.639
 the world.

00:37:04.579 --> 00:37:05.559
 Limited atonement, which

00:37:05.559 --> 00:37:06.480
 many people like to call

00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:07.339
 particular redemption,

00:37:07.539 --> 00:37:08.719
 but I don't think TUPIP is a

00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:11.079
 very good acronym here in

00:37:11.079 --> 00:37:11.500
 this case.

00:37:11.960 --> 00:37:13.299
 Limited atonement, right?

00:37:13.299 --> 00:37:14.839
 The work of Christ for us

00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:15.579
 on the cross.

00:37:15.579 --> 00:37:16.719
 God made the plan.

00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:18.639
 Christ accomplished the

00:37:18.639 --> 00:37:18.939
 work.

00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:20.859
 It is finished.

00:37:22.059 --> 00:37:22.179
 Right?

00:37:22.259 --> 00:37:23.099
 And then irresistible

00:37:23.099 --> 00:37:23.599
 grace.

00:37:23.799 --> 00:37:25.019
 Some people say the

00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:26.899
 effectual calling of the

00:37:26.899 --> 00:37:27.159
 Spirit.

00:37:27.399 --> 00:37:28.259
 So God made the plan.

00:37:28.379 --> 00:37:29.219
 Christ accomplished the

00:37:29.219 --> 00:37:29.500
 work.

00:37:29.679 --> 00:37:30.839
 And the Spirit is bringing

00:37:30.839 --> 00:37:32.480
 that work into fruition.

00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:33.159
 Right?

00:37:33.159 --> 00:37:34.759
 He has called us, and now

00:37:34.759 --> 00:37:36.039
 He is working in us to

00:37:36.039 --> 00:37:37.379
 make us perfect.

00:37:38.299 --> 00:37:38.459
 Right?

00:37:39.480 --> 00:37:40.980
 Beloved, these doctrines

00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:42.719
 are meant to be a pillow

00:37:42.719 --> 00:37:44.059
 for us to lay our heads

00:37:44.059 --> 00:37:44.279
 on.

00:37:44.280 --> 00:37:46.360
 They're not meant to be a

00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:47.560
 rock for us to crash

00:37:47.560 --> 00:37:48.340
 headlong into.

00:37:48.660 --> 00:37:49.840
 And they're certainly not

00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:50.940
 meant to be a rock into

00:37:50.940 --> 00:37:52.080
 which to beat somebody

00:37:52.080 --> 00:37:53.100
 else over the head with.

00:37:54.280 --> 00:37:56.300
 Every time we see this

00:37:56.300 --> 00:37:57.040
 taught throughout the

00:37:57.040 --> 00:37:58.080
 Scriptures, it is meant

00:37:58.080 --> 00:37:59.700
 to be a comfort to the

00:37:59.700 --> 00:38:00.420
 people of God.

00:38:01.080 --> 00:38:03.720
 God is sovereign, and He

00:38:03.720 --> 00:38:05.300
 is good to His people.

00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:06.840
 That's what we're meant

00:38:06.840 --> 00:38:08.080
 to grab hold of and

00:38:08.080 --> 00:38:08.440
 take.

00:38:08.700 --> 00:38:10.000
 As Spurgeon was arguing

00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:10.800
 that the sovereignty of

00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:12.080
 God, that doctrine should be

00:38:12.080 --> 00:38:13.240
 fought for more than any

00:38:13.239 --> 00:38:14.299
 other doctrine for the

00:38:14.299 --> 00:38:14.859
 people of God.

00:38:15.299 --> 00:38:16.559
 Because that is where our

00:38:16.559 --> 00:38:18.279
 surety comes from.

00:38:18.799 --> 00:38:18.919
 Right?

00:38:19.179 --> 00:38:20.779
 That's what gives us the

00:38:20.779 --> 00:38:22.419
 encouragement to continue

00:38:22.419 --> 00:38:23.599
 to work.

00:38:24.299 --> 00:38:25.579
 If all of this depended

00:38:25.579 --> 00:38:26.739
 on me, I'd be done

00:38:26.739 --> 00:38:27.099
 already.

00:38:27.739 --> 00:38:29.619
 Because I'm a failure at

00:38:29.619 --> 00:38:30.299
 leading a church.

00:38:31.259 --> 00:38:32.339
 I would just quit.

00:38:32.459 --> 00:38:33.159
 I'd say, there's not a

00:38:33.159 --> 00:38:33.959
 chance I'm getting this

00:38:33.959 --> 00:38:34.219
 done.

00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:35.479
 It would be fruitless

00:38:35.479 --> 00:38:36.939
 effort if it all depended

00:38:36.939 --> 00:38:37.399
 on me.

00:38:37.919 --> 00:38:40.179
 But because it depends on

00:38:40.179 --> 00:38:41.579
 God, the call, whatever

00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:42.859
 that particular vision for

00:38:42.860 --> 00:38:44.500
 our church is, I don't

00:38:44.500 --> 00:38:45.240
 really even know.

00:38:45.320 --> 00:38:46.519
 It will be completed.

00:38:47.079 --> 00:38:47.160
 Right?

00:38:47.220 --> 00:38:49.039
 God will do exactly what

00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:51.620
 He intends to do with us.

00:38:52.240 --> 00:38:52.420
 Right?

00:38:52.519 --> 00:38:53.160
 Remember that.

00:38:53.220 --> 00:38:54.280
 These doctrines are meant

00:38:54.280 --> 00:38:56.079
 to be a pillow for us to

00:38:56.079 --> 00:38:57.120
 rest our heads on.

00:38:57.660 --> 00:38:59.640
 The light yoke that we

00:38:59.640 --> 00:39:01.360
 take upon us.

00:39:02.460 --> 00:39:05.640
 John 16.33, Jesus says,

00:39:05.640 --> 00:39:06.599
 I have said these things

00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:08.320
 to you that in me you may

00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:09.099
 have peace.

00:39:09.320 --> 00:39:11.200
 In the world you will have

00:39:11.199 --> 00:39:12.239
 tribulation.

00:39:12.839 --> 00:39:13.739
 But take heart.

00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:16.379
 I have overcome the world.

00:39:16.899 --> 00:39:17.960
 Christ crucified.

00:39:18.259 --> 00:39:21.000
 He has overcome the world.

00:39:21.599 --> 00:39:23.019
 Paul had confidence in this

00:39:23.019 --> 00:39:24.739
 as he was talking to others

00:39:24.739 --> 00:39:26.639
 about others and their

00:39:26.639 --> 00:39:28.759
 progression in faith.

00:39:29.259 --> 00:39:30.379
 Philippians 1.6, he says,

00:39:30.460 --> 00:39:31.379
 And I'm sure of this, that

00:39:31.379 --> 00:39:32.679
 he who began a good work in

00:39:32.679 --> 00:39:34.199
 you will bring it to

00:39:34.199 --> 00:39:35.779
 completion at the day of

00:39:35.779 --> 00:39:36.480
 Jesus Christ.

00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:38.699
 Christ, it is in God's

00:39:38.699 --> 00:39:39.820
 sovereign control.

00:39:40.980 --> 00:39:42.579
 It doesn't negate our part

00:39:42.579 --> 00:39:42.860
 in it.

00:39:43.159 --> 00:39:44.760
 But God is in control.

00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:46.880
 As we are given the great

00:39:46.880 --> 00:39:48.980
 commission by Christ to go

00:39:48.980 --> 00:39:50.219
 and make disciples of all

00:39:50.219 --> 00:39:52.320
 the world, baptizing them in

00:39:52.320 --> 00:39:52.900
 the name of the Father and

00:39:52.900 --> 00:39:53.760
 the Son and the Holy Spirit,

00:39:54.099 --> 00:39:55.179
 teaching Him to walk in His

00:39:55.179 --> 00:39:55.559
 ways.

00:39:55.740 --> 00:39:57.420
 As we're given that commission,

00:39:57.519 --> 00:39:58.659
 we're given an even greater

00:39:58.659 --> 00:39:59.380
 promise.

00:40:00.440 --> 00:40:01.500
 Matthew 28.20,

00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:03.139
 And behold, I am with you

00:40:03.139 --> 00:40:05.559
 always to the end of the age.

00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:08.860
 If we're going to set about

00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:10.159
 the work in the face of

00:40:10.159 --> 00:40:12.480
 opposition, we must believe

00:40:12.480 --> 00:40:13.619
 these things.

00:40:14.199 --> 00:40:16.840
 The sovereign goodness of our

00:40:16.840 --> 00:40:17.119
 God.

00:40:18.320 --> 00:40:20.880
 Secondly, simply know that

00:40:20.880 --> 00:40:22.719
 opposition is part of the

00:40:22.719 --> 00:40:23.059
 work.

00:40:23.780 --> 00:40:25.179
 It is part of the work.

00:40:25.420 --> 00:40:27.199
 It doesn't just stand in the

00:40:27.199 --> 00:40:29.240
 way of the work, but it is

00:40:29.240 --> 00:40:31.400
 in fact part of the work of

00:40:31.400 --> 00:40:33.659
 us being built into a holy

00:40:33.659 --> 00:40:36.240
 temple, a dwelling place for

00:40:36.239 --> 00:40:37.759
 God, as the people of God.

00:40:38.479 --> 00:40:39.339
 It's part of the work.

00:40:39.459 --> 00:40:41.719
 James 1.2-4 says,

00:40:41.819 --> 00:40:43.299
 Counter all joy, my brothers,

00:40:43.399 --> 00:40:44.559
 when you meet trials of

00:40:44.559 --> 00:40:45.299
 various kinds.

00:40:45.699 --> 00:40:47.179
 For you know that the testing

00:40:47.179 --> 00:40:48.219
 of your faith produces

00:40:48.219 --> 00:40:49.179
 steadfastness.

00:40:49.579 --> 00:40:50.919
 And let steadfastness have its

00:40:50.919 --> 00:40:52.399
 full effect, that you may be

00:40:52.399 --> 00:40:53.919
 perfect and complete,

00:40:54.500 --> 00:40:55.239
 lacking in nothing.

00:40:56.099 --> 00:40:57.079
 What did I say to you?

00:40:57.139 --> 00:40:58.319
 That the work that's before us

00:40:58.319 --> 00:41:00.039
 is to be holy and to bring

00:41:00.039 --> 00:41:01.919
 about holiness in the lives of

00:41:01.920 --> 00:41:02.260
 others.

00:41:03.500 --> 00:41:05.460
 This is a major way in which

00:41:05.460 --> 00:41:06.180
 that happens.

00:41:06.700 --> 00:41:08.340
 As we work in the face of

00:41:08.340 --> 00:41:10.159
 opposition, that is in fact

00:41:10.159 --> 00:41:12.039
 part of the work.

00:41:12.760 --> 00:41:12.960
 Right?

00:41:13.960 --> 00:41:14.960
 Relying on God.

00:41:15.240 --> 00:41:16.740
 The testing of our faith.

00:41:17.700 --> 00:41:19.039
 God does this to me constantly.

00:41:19.619 --> 00:41:20.740
 He says to me, do you really

00:41:20.740 --> 00:41:21.880
 trust me?

00:41:22.240 --> 00:41:23.920
 Do you really think you can do

00:41:23.920 --> 00:41:24.900
 nothing apart from me?

00:41:25.500 --> 00:41:28.280
 And so often I go, yeah, but I

00:41:28.280 --> 00:41:28.579
 forgot.

00:41:29.860 --> 00:41:30.559
 You're right.

00:41:31.059 --> 00:41:32.680
 I can do nothing apart from you.

00:41:33.519 --> 00:41:35.760
 Everything good that happens in

00:41:35.760 --> 00:41:37.559
 me and through me is a work of

00:41:37.559 --> 00:41:37.800
 God.

00:41:37.900 --> 00:41:39.380
 It's this testing of my faith and

00:41:39.380 --> 00:41:41.320
 it produces steadfastness.

00:41:41.500 --> 00:41:42.160
 In what?

00:41:42.260 --> 00:41:43.260
 Steadfastness in faith.

00:41:43.340 --> 00:41:44.760
 In our dependence on God.

00:41:44.760 --> 00:41:47.139
 And that is the process by which

00:41:47.139 --> 00:41:48.220
 we're made perfect.

00:41:48.360 --> 00:41:49.840
 That our faith will be made

00:41:49.840 --> 00:41:50.400
 complete.

00:41:50.400 --> 00:41:54.880
 So let me conclude this morning

00:41:54.880 --> 00:41:56.460
 by just asking you two questions.

00:41:57.500 --> 00:41:59.019
 I just want you to ponder these.

00:42:00.019 --> 00:42:02.480
 Has opposition caused you to

00:42:02.480 --> 00:42:03.139
 cease working?

00:42:05.579 --> 00:42:07.320
 And are there any endeavors that

00:42:07.320 --> 00:42:09.059
 you need to renew your

00:42:09.059 --> 00:42:09.619
 commitment to?

00:42:10.740 --> 00:42:11.720
 Let's pray together.